Wakefield Trinity name new captain for Saturday’s clash with Catalans Dragons after Jacob Miller injury

Jacob Miller will sit out Wakefield Trinity’s fixture against Catalans Dragons after suffering an injury in the club’s defeat to Hull FC last weekend.

Wakefield head coach Willie Poching has confirmed his new captain will be Jay Pitts.

The weather didn’t help proceedings last weekend against Hull with neither side able to get into their full stride and Poching bemoaned the final calls and execution of his players, though he was full of praise for their efforts.

“I’m frustrated because the effort was outstanding – especially defensively,” Poching said.

“I thought the way they put themselves about, they showed a lot of spirit and unity.

“I thought we created ourselves some field position on the back of our defensive effort but we just couldn’t get ourselves over the whitewash due to a lack of execution.”

Poching and Trinity were missing halfback Mason Lino, whilst his replacement, Lee Gaskell, went off injured following a big hit from Josh Reynolds.

“He’s being assessed now, it was an elbow but we don’t know to what extent the injury is.

“We’re hoping so (Lino will be back), he missed a fair chunk of pre-season but we need to get him back fit and back up to speed.

When asked about Jake Connor’s red card – given for a high tackle on Gaskell as he ran through – Poching had sympathy for the Hull FC fullback.

“I didn’t quite see it as it was a way up the other end of the field.

“I understand where the game is going with it to protect players especially in the long-term.

“I’m all for the concussion protocols but I’m not sure looking over the course of the weekend that it’s the look we want with teams playing with 11 and 12 men.

“The contest element is taken away when you’ve got players sitting out on the field, but some of these situations can’t be helped.

“Us as coaches we have to coach our players to be disciplined and coach those situations.”